Flexible straw hat



Feb 10, 1931- B. E YBR'oNs-roN 1,791,554

FLEXI BLE STRAW HAT .Filed Feb. 5, 1929 l NVENTOR Benda/71m 55m/wmATTORNEY f Patented Feb. 10, 1931 narran FLEXIBLE STRAW HAT Applicationled February 5, 1929. Serial No. 337,563;

My present invention relates to stiff straw hats and especially to thosehaving a flexible head conforming portion intermediate the crown and thebrim.

A defect of this type of straw hat lies in the weakness of the jointbetween the straw of the stiff portions and that of the flexibleportion. It is usual to make the crown and brim of the hat out of whatis known in the trade as sennit or rustic braid, which presents asaw-toothed edge at the finished side or sides. Now, obviously, thestitch connecting the sti braid to the flexible braid has therefore, atnumerous points, insufficient backing, and in view of the considerableflex ure at the joint, the thread has a tendency to work through to theedge of the stiff braid at points and the sewing becomes undone.

It is therefore the main object of my invention to provide a simplestructure to remedy this defect and to provide a sturdy straw hat with aflexible head-conforming portion.

This and other objects which will become f' apparent hereinafter,Iachieve by introducing between the crown and the flexible portion, asection of stiff straw having a double straight smooth edge which can besewed to the flexible portion strongly enough to resist M the strain andcan be sewed to the crown in the ordinary fashion.

Furthermore, instead of -sewing together the edges of the brim and theflexible portions, I extend the flexible portion in between the plies ofthe brim clear to the outer edge of the latter, thus having aconsiderable area of engagement which can be sewed together in theordinary manner.

I have shown in the drawings, and will now describe, an embodiment of myinvention, but it is to be understood that various changes andalterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of myinvention or the scope of my claims.

ln the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a hat constructed according toI myinvention.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the hat of Figure l, only so much beingshown as is necessary to illustrate the invention.

Figure 3 is a plan viewof the portion shown in Figure 2.

" Figure 4 is-a section along the line 4--4 of Figure `2.

rllhe straw hat of my invention comprises a stiened crown 1, a stid brim2, a flexible head conforming portion 8, intermediate the brim and thecrown, and a stiff straw insert 4, connecting the crown l, and theflexible portion 3. My hat may also be provided with the usual innerlining 5, sweat band 6, and outer band 7.

As usual the brim is made of several plies to give additional stinessand strength. l have shown two plies 2', 2 of rustic straw.

The flexible portion 3, may be made of braid known in the trade asrumilage, has an upstanding crown portion 3a and a horizontal brimportion 3b extending the full width of the brim and running in betweenthe stiff plies 2, 2". An additional ply 30 of rumilage may be used toparallel the ply 3b. The plies 2', 3?), 3c, 2 are then sewed together inthe usual manner.

The crown, which is only conventionally represented, is made of rusticstraw braid, sewed together by the usual invisible stitch (not shown)similar to the stitch 8. lnter` mediate the flexible portion 3a, and thecrown l, l have provided a stift' insert 4, made of a braid which isknown to the trade as fiat foot rustic. This braid has at its finishedside a smooth, sturdy edge shown at 9, in Figures 2 and 4. The insert 4,is secured to the flexible section 3a by means of a continuous chainstitch l0, parallel to the edge 9, and to the crown l, by the ordinaryinvisible stitch 5.

Inherently the braid out of which the insert 4, is made, is strongerthan the braid of the crown. The straight edge of section 4, issubstantially a doubled edge all along its length, and the fibre of thestraw runs at an angle to the edge. This straw therefore offersconsiderably more resistance to tearing out of the stitch than does therustic or sennit of the crown. Since the insert is stiif and is stitchedto the crown, the stresses and strains due to flexure at the stitch l0,are distributed over the entire crown and produce no excepfrv tionalstrain at the stitch 8. In use, the band 7 covers and conceals theportions 3a and 4:, thus retainingY the conventional appearance.

I claim as iny invention: Y.

l. A straw hat comprising a stiff Crown, a brim, an intermediateflexible head-conforming member having a straight edge, and a stiliinsert connecting the crown and the fiexible portion, said insert beingbraided t0 present a straight edge, the meeting edges of said insert andiexible member being straight. l Y

2. In a straw hat having a. stiffY crown and a. flexible head-conformingportion having a straight edge, a stiif insertrintermediate andconnecting the crown and the flexible portion, said insert being braidedto present a straight edge, Vthe meeting edges of said insert andflexible portion being straight. e

Signed at New York, New York, in the countyV of NewY York and State ofNew York, this 31st day of January, A. D. 1929.

'Y BENJAMIN E. BRONSTON.

